DES MOINES, Iowa By the end of this year developers plan to start remodeling construction on a section of the partially destroyed Younkers Building in downtown Des Moines.

The Madison, Wisconsin based contracting group, the Alexander Company, owns the building. Project developer, David Vos, says the west side of the building will be remodeled to house 60 apartment units, major retail space and office space. Vos says his company hired specialists to restore the ceiling in the buildings 6th floor tea room which will also be expanded.

Fire investigators are unsure what caused the building to catch fire on March 29th.

The most desirable thing was being able to restore the building and keep that history but I think physically there are better opportunities with the building, says Vos.

The west section of the building will no longer be called the Younkers Building but rather the Wilkins Building. That portion of the building was originally named that in the 1920s before the Younkers brothers took ownership of the property.

The project will cost roughly $20 million to complete however developers arent sure what will be done with the east side of the building that was entirely destroyed by the fire.

President of the Downtown Community Alliance, Glenn Lyons, says the progress on the Walnut Street corridor is the momentum downtown needs.

The fire was a big let down and all of our idea for Walnut Street got put on hold while they sorted out the mess and now were moving forward again. This has been a set back but were getting through it.

The Wilkins Building project is expected to be completed in 2015.

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Better Opportunities While Remodeling Younkers Building Says Developers

These French doors and windows, visible from the home's entry, provide lots of natural light to the space and also offer an inviting view of a covered deck and beautiful back yard.

Kevin Bunnell

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Editor's note: Portions of this column have previously run on the writers' website at renovationdesigngroup.com and in a previous Renovation Design column at deseretnews.com.

Many people think of architecture as the look of a structure from the outside, and this is indeed a part of architecture. One of the definitions from the Free Dictionary for architecture is the "orderly arrangement of parts." The exterior style, shape and lines of a building do constitute architecture.

However, interior architecture is equally as important as what goes on the exterior of a building or residence. A house that looks spectacular but does not function well for the residents on a daily basis becomes more of a sculpture than a home. Architecture is a challenging blend of science and art. Taking a general look at home remodeling, we have three basic tips to create a great design.

Exterior and interior connections

The exterior architecture of a home is very important. Your home should have a dominant style with updated, complementary finishes. For example, adding a front porch to a house can make a world of difference both in the look of the home and how it functions.

However, architecture not only concerns the arrangement of the interior and exterior parts of a residence but also the way the home relates to its context or surroundings. Our living spaces should extend outside the literal walls of our homes both physically and visually. In our climate, we have the opportunity to play, celebrate, entertain and relax outside for a good portion of the year. Even when the weather keeps us inside, we need light and a visual connection to nature and to the world beyond our walls. Therefore, as our living spaces and activities extend outside, they should reflect the same level of design and style as the interior of our homes.

The connection between our inside and outside spaces is critical and should be seamless and natural. Even outside, we should find properly designed living areas. The overall architectural design of a home should facilitate a clean transition between inside and outside, making it completely natural to move easily between the two types of spaces.

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Renovation Solutions: Architects three tips for a great design

White Sox players will have a revamped home base when they return to U.S. Cellular Field for the 2015 season.

The Sox will soon begin construction on remodeling the home clubhouse, the first significant renovation of the space since the ballpark opened in 1991, according to a Sox spokesman.

The remodeling project will include a larger weight room in a new location, additional meeting spaces for coaches and staff and a remodeled clubhouse space that will include new lockers.

The Sox declined to release budget details about the remodeling project, but construction is expected to start soon and be completed in March, in time for Opening Day, the spokesman said. The Sox open the 2015 season April 6 in Kansas City and host the Twins on April 10 for the home opener.

The Sox plan to release more details about the project at a later date.

We plan on showing the media the newly renovated space sometime in March as completion nears, the spokesman said.

The Sox brought a sample locker in to the clubhouse during the final week of the season. Retiring Sox captain Paul Konerko joked after the last home game that after the renovations were complete he hoped to ship his old locker and chair to his home in Arizona.

Maybe Ill just sit in front of it every day, he said.

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White Sox to remodel home clubhouse

If you want to give your home an updated and timeless look, consider transitional style an interior designing trend that blends classic traditional and contemporary looks.

Whether you prefer simplicity or more ornate designs, the transitional style will allow you to combine the elegance of traditional and the simplicity of modern to create a more inviting and sophisticated feel to your home.

Transitional is mixing both beige and gray with geometrics instead of florals, and more straight lines and less curves, said Kim Lyons, an interior designer at Goedecke Decorating Center in Bedford, who prefers the transitional style in her home because of its clean, modern lines and warmth.

Transitional style also focuses on comfort and practicality. Lyons said everyone has a different criteria when redecorating their home, depending on which room theyre remodeling and their familys needs. However, in todays busy world, rooms are often used for many things and activities.

Every room is for multi-tasking. Computers are so wireless any room can be an office or a place for family time or games, Lyons said. The rooms in my home are always for multi-tasking.

She also said wallpaper is becoming a popular choice for many people because of its versatility.

Wallpaper is on its way back in with layered prints, bolder colors and textures, she said.

As you begin to redecorate, view your rooms as a blank canvas and let your imagination help you design a look that incorporates your preferences of color, textures, furniture and accessories.

Also, take your current furniture and accessories into consideration. With transitional decorating, theres no need to discard your heirloom dresser or sofa because your antiques can be displayed alongside todays home fashions.

For wall covering, start with neutral colors and choose from the many different shades on paint swatches that are available at home and decorating centers. Whites, pale blues and greens tend to soften a room for a calming feel. Reds stimulate an area, while grays create drama and moodiness.

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Decorating trends Transitional style blends traditional and contemporary

A new Bud Light ad stars Pro Football Hall of Famer Warren Sapp dressed as a pirate and focuses on remodeling the living room of a Tampa Bay fan into a Buccaneers man cave.

The home makeover, part of the beers Up for Whatever campaign, also includes a backyard pirate ship replete with working cannons.

The Bucs-themed ad, which started running nationally Sunday, features Alex, who is indeed a huge fan of the team, says Lindsey Herzog, who handles Anheuser-Busch accounts for the Weber Shandwick public relations firm.

The Buccaneerd spot begins with Alex, wearing a Bucs T-shirt, loading a case of Bud Light into his car at a store, which means hes up for whatever, says the narrator.

In an instant, Alex is surprised with a newly furnished living room that is more cove than cave, with Bucs gear, head-to-toe skeleton and even a Captain Fear mascot knickknack. Friends in Bucs apparel are already relaxing inside, enjoying their Bud Light.

Then Sapp adorned in tri-cornered hat, frock coat and shoulder-perched parrot barges in to greet the No. 1 Buc fan. Sapp leads Alex to the backyard galleon, Alex yells, Im going to fire the cannons, and the commerical closes with a loud blast from the ships faux artillery.

Belgium-based Anheuser-Busch InBev, which brews Bud Light, began a six-year sponsorship deal with the NFL in 2011.

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Bucs-themed Bud Light ad features Sapp as a pirate

The first thing you notice about Kiera and Michael Kushlan's one-bedroom co-op is how they've pulled it together to be both modern and classic. The second is how spacious it seems.

The Kushlans, both 29, believe that what you leave out of a room is just as important as what you put in. On a limited budget, they invested their own time and DIY skills to renovate the run-down 1920s flat. In the process, they uncovered its hidden charms and discovered a lot about themselves.

"I would much rather have a small space filled with all the things that I love than just buying furniture to fill space," says Kiera, an interior designer who enjoys editing just as much as shopping. The Kushlans' renovation of their 750-square-foot home in Washington unified the three rooms with white walls and new espresso wood floors. They carefully layered in a few bold patterns and colors, framed maps of places they loved and pulled in furniture they've reclaimed and repurposed. They used space creatively: an entrance foyer became a place to dine or work; two Ikea cabinets were transformed into a floating bar. In the bedroom, Michael built a small desktop into a window niche with a piece of plywood and iron brackets from the Brass Knob.

Their stylish co-op has become a calling card for Kiera's design business, Residents Understood, and has created a bit of an online sensation in the blogosphere. In April, Design Sponge featured photos of the Kushlans' apartment. In June, their place got the most votes in the Apartment Therapy Small Cool Home Contest in the "Little" division (homes under 1,000 square feet).

"We discovered we had the same kind of vision," Michael says. "We like to have some traditional pieces but add our own twists of modern. We find things that reflect who we are and where we travel together. We both love order."

The result is a warm retreat that's organized. "I don't like to have a lot of things. It makes me anxious," Kiera says. "My philosophy is, if I don't love it, I don't keep it."

Kiera and Michael met at Ohio University. Michael got an MBA there and he is now a management consultant. Kiera went on to get a master's degree at the University of Florida. In 2009, they moved to Washington and got married. Kiera worked briefly for a designer before starting her own firm in 2010 with Florida classmate Jessica Centella.

"We had a targeted demographic of ages 25 to 40," Kiera says. Most clients live in small spaces. "The name of our firm came from how we approach our projects. It's based around the client's wants, needs, personal aesthetic and style," she says.

The Kushlans started looking for a place to buy in March 2012. It was the building's European flavor and the neighborhood that sold them.

"It felt like I was in Paris with its small elevator and wonderful details," Kiera says. The flat needed work: electrical upgrades, lighting and a new kitchen. They came up with a plan and spent two months remodeling before they moved in, doing a good chunk of the work themselves. They tore out the dated, worn-out galley kitchen. Part of the wall between the kitchen and living room also came down. They chose the Ikea Adel line of white cabinets that they warmed up with Ikea butcher block counters and a farm-style porcelain sink.

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Spare change for small space

The Greater Houston Builders Association's Custom Builders Council and HomeAid Houston were partners in a recent remodel project for Santa Maria Hostel, an agency that provides a supportive program for women rebuilding their lives.

Brandon Lynch with Keechi Creek Builders led members of the CBC and other volunteers in a complete remodel of Santa Maria's multi-purpose room where residents hold meetings and education classes, and where they gather with family members to celebrate holidays and other special occasions.

The entire project was a collaboration of donated labor, material and time by dozens of individuals and companies.

The dedication of the room was held Sept. 16 when appreciation awards were presented to the members of the project's team, volunteers and to the donors who were instrumental in completing the renovations.

The ceremony was opened by Ted Cummins, CBC board president. Meagan, a client from Santa Maria, was a guest speaker who shared her story of her recent recovery and rehabilitation efforts through the Santa Maria program.

Lynch expressed appreciation for the hard work and commitment by the volunteers. Lynch presented awards to the six underwriters: Bison, A Stock Building Supply Co., The Club at Falcon Point, Dal-Tile Corp., Ferguson Bath, Kitchen and Lighting Gallery, Masco Cabinetry and Trendmaker Homes. Appreciation awards were presented to the project's 14 vendors and nearly 30 volunteers.

Nadine Scamp, CEO of Santa Maria Hostel; Jennifer Taylor, president of HomeAid Houston; and Toy Wood, CEO of the GHBA were on-hand to thank all who participated.

Work involved demolition of components of the multi-media room including two existing bathrooms that had the original fixtures from 1965. The bathrooms received new tile floors, sinks, cabinets, and tubs and toilets. The multi-media room was remodeled with new floor tiles and installation of new cabinets, countertops, new paint, new doors and energy-efficient windows.

"The CBC team," said Bette Moser, executive director of HomeAid Houston, "led by Brandon Lynch with Keechi Creek Builders, tackled this project with true gusto and commitment to provide a warm, uplifting place for the Santa Maria clients to enjoy as they work toward a better future. HomeAid and the Santa Maria staff and residents cannot thank the CBC team enough for their generosity."

For more information about HomeAid Houston, visit http://www.homeaidhouston.org or call 281-970-8970.

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HomeAid Houston, CBC room remodel benefits women's shelter ...

Elizabeth Miller, Houzz Contributor

Some bathrooms seem to never go out of style, with their classic colors, clean lines and timeless fixtures. Then theres the other kind: the relics of bygone eras that challenge the eyes with their mint, pink, aqua or raspberry tiles and matching fixtures. If you have an older bathroom you consider out-of-date, dont give up on it yet!

There are several ways to spruce it up without renovating sometimes the details can make a difference in the livability of a vintage bathroom. Here are a few helpful tricks.

12 unique ways to make a small bathroom look better

1. Update the fixtures. Usually a pedestal sink will still be in good shape after decades of use, but a leaky faucet and out-of-date sconces will need to be replaced. The style of these two items can transform your bathroom and dont involve changing the tile at all. If youre dealing with a colored tub, consider having it resurfaced.

You can paint the walls and medicine cabinet white and let the tile color whatever it may be speak for itself. With a cleaner background, your colored tile could be a new favorite. Keep in mind that even if you do end up ripping out the tile, you can reuse the fixtures in the next phase of your bathroom renovation.

2. Be purposeful about the artwork. Here is one more example of how updating fixtures can revive the bathroom without the need to redo the tile. Another element that helps mitigate the tile color is artwork. Use what you hang on the walls to your advantage. Usually theres space for only one or two pieces in a smaller bathroom, so focus on pulling in the tile color as a minor color. This means the rest of the art can be something you love and can feature more of your favorite colors, but with just that touch of teal, pink, peach or whatevers in your vintage bathroom, the art will still connect with the space.

Use a metallic or wood frame, so theres one less color to factor into your design.

Browse a wide selection of artwork for your bathroom

3. Paint the tiles. It wont last as long as replacing the tile, but if you really cant stand the color of your existing tiles, you can paint them. Youll need a very good primer typically oil based, not water based, according to Dana Waldecker, a professional painter in the Boston area. Even if you end up doing some of the work yourself, you should consult a professional painter to review the materials youre planning to use and your specific wall conditions. Every project is different, and theres no eraser when it comes to painting tile.

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8 Ways To Spruce Up An Older Bathroom (Without Remodeling)

In our ideal world, bathroom renovations would all look like the best of HGTV, with perfectly centered tiles and gracious step in tubs. The reality though, feels more like wading through the worst of Sharknado in the hopes of a somewhat decent end result. Before you start your own bathroom reno, take time to consider these ten tips from Jean-Jacques LHnaff, Vice President of Design at American Standard:

And when it comes down to it The only expert who really matters is you- you have to live with it.

(Keep an eye out for my gut renovation before and after slide show coming next month!)

Rachel Weingarten is a noted and quoted style expert, personal brand consultant, and former celebrity makeup artist. Shes a co-founder of becausestyle.com and the author of three nonfiction books including Ancient Prayer, out 9/14. Tweet with her @rachelcw or like her page on Facebook. Need help style-stalking your favorite celebrity look? Write to Rachel at psstrachel@gmail.com.

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10 things to consider before remodeling your bathroom

The 42nd annual Dunwoody Home Tour, scheduled for Oct. 1,will showcasefive lovely homes reflecting various phasesin homeowners life cycles. The phase represented by Serenity, a hilltop estate home, is the culmination ofacross-country relocation and two years of renovations.

The home was built in the 1970s and a master bedroom added in the 1990s. Its large rooms are furnished with pieces brought from a previous home in California as well as new pieces of local provenance, a successful blend of bi-coastal acquisitions.Some of the homesoriginal features have been retained, including hand-painted muralsin thedining room and interior and exterior crown molding said to have taken a master carpenter a full year to complete.Delightful surprises abound in every room, the result of years of discriminating design choices flawlesslyintegrated into theirnew setting.

The owner turned a formerly dark family room into anew, light-filledspace through the magic of multiple coats of Shagreen paint by Sherwin-Williams and extensive remodeling of ceiling, floor, fireplace and cabinetry. Thenewly airylook carries through to the kitchen where glass-paned cabinets echo a Palladian window over the sink.Similarwindows in a nearby breakfast roomimpart the feeling of an English conservatory, enhanced bythe view across acovered patio toward a pristine pool surrounded by manicured gardens, classic statuary and a whimsical gazebo.

Tryst, a fashion and gift boutique, will be located at this home onthe day of the tour.

Flowers will be provided by Botany Bay Florist.

Tickets to the Dunwoody Home Tour are $25 in advance and $30 on the day of the tour. They are available at Blooms of Dunwoody, Consigning Women, Curves of Dunwoody and Sandy Springs, Nancys Boutique, Nancys Hallmark, Southern Comforts Consignments, from any member of Dunwoody Womans Club or at the clubs website, dunwoodywomansclub.org.

All ticket proceeds are returned to the community through the clubs programs in the arts, conservation, education, home life, international outreach and public issues.Through its affiliation with the Georgia Federation of Womens Clubs, theclub also owns and operates Tallulah Falls School in North Georgia.

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Murals, crown moldings highlight hilltop estate